The Inside Track | Issue #161 | Friday, December 6, 2024 | |
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ASD Hours
- Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- VLT machines are sanitized between use
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Assiniboia Downs is Open-Year Round
- 140 VLTs open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Free games for cash prizes!
- Free Draws for $200 cash every Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 9 p.m.
- Wagering on top tracks from North America, Europe & Australia
- Daily Happy Hour, $11.95 lunch specials, evening specials and full dining menu
- Facility rentals
- Special events
Go to ASDowns.com for a complete list of upcoming events and specials.
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In this edition . . .
- What's happening at the Downs?
- Draws in the VLT Lounge every Friday, Saturday & Sunday
- There's always a Deal at ASD!
- Christmas Buffet - SOLD OUT
- New Year's Eve Dinner and Dance
- AI Handicapping Test #4. Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
- Looking For a Special Photo?
- TravyFootball Week 14
- Wagering, Betting Bonuses & More
- A Snapshot in Time: Cache Lake
- Hong Kong Group 1 Races Attract the World
- Oaklawn Park Opens: Key Track Trends
- Keewadin Stretches Out in Remsen
- Best of Bob: That was Then. This is Now.
- Upcoming Events
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Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. | |
140 VLTs
More VLTs = More Jackpots! See our recent Jackpot Wins below:
Dec. 2 - Joker Poker - $1,000
Dec. 1 - Big City 5's - $1,000
Dec. 1 - Viracocha - $1,036
Nov. 30 - Joker Poker - $1,000
Nov. 29 - Wild Life Extreme - $1,250
Nov. 29 - Wild Pride - $1,250
Nov. 28 - Wild Life Extreme - $1,025
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ASD is the place to be every Friday, Saturday & Sunday night! A Free Draw for $200 Cash plus a chance to Spin the Lucky Wheel to win up to $100! | |
Cash Draws!
Spin the Cash Wheel every Friday, Saturday & Sunday: Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel to win up to $100 cash. Draws from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Draws for $200 Cash every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Join us in the VLT Lounge every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a chance to win $200 cash. The draw for $200 cash will take place at 9 p.m.
Dinner specials, drink specials and a chance to win some cash! It doesn't get any better than that!
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12 Days of Christmas Cash!
Saturday, Dec. 14 through Thursday, Dec. 26. Enter for a chance to pick an ornament off the Christmas Tree to win up to $100 cash. Draws will be made during the afternoon and evening plus complimentary snacks will be served.
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There's Always a Deal at ASD! | |
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New! $11.95 Daily Lunch Specials
Daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Each day of the week will feature a daily food item as outlined below.
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Mondays: Jalapeno Chicken Parm Sandwich
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Tuesdays: Downs Burger
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Wednesdays: Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Tomato
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Thursdays: Taco Salad
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Fridays: Crispy Chicken Ranch Wrap
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Saturdays: Western Omelette
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Sundays: Hot Beef Sandwich
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Happy Hour
Daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and
9 p.m. to close.
Drink Specials
- 6 oz. House Wine - $5.50
- House Spirits - $5.50
- Domestic Beer - $5.50
- House Lager Pint - $6.00
- Downs Caesar - $7.00
Appetizer Specials
- Sweet Potato Fries - $8.95
- Chicken Fingers - $8.95
- Cheese Nachos - $8.95
- Pot Stickers - $8.95
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Spirit Hour
Nightly from 11 p.m. to Midnight
- House Vodka - $4
- Rye - $4
- Gin - $4
- Rum - $4
- Spiced Rum - $4
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Evening Chef's Specials
Daily from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Reservations are not required.
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Mondays: Chicken Finger Dinner $14.95 - Crispy breaded chicken tenders served with our famous honey dill dip. Served with fries and coleslaw.
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Tuesdays: 20% Off all regular priced food items.
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Wednesdays: Pizza $15.95 - 12-inch thin crust pizza. Ham & Pineapple, Pepperoni & Mushroom or Vegetarian (tomatoes, onions, peppers, black olives & mushrooms).
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Thursdays: Chipotle Mozza Burger $15.95 - Our signature chuck patty and crispy bacon smothered in melted mozzarella. Topped with fresh sliced tomato, fried onion rings, chipotle mayo and sweet bold barbecue sauce.
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Fridays: Steak & Suds $29.95 - 8 oz. NY Striploin charbroiled and seasoned with our smoky dry rub. Served with fresh vegetables and a choice of mashed potatoes or french fries. Plus a complimentary pint of ASD Lucky Lager.
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Saturdays: Prime Rib & Wine $29.95 - 8 oz. Certified Angus Prime Rib. Served with fresh vegetables and a choice of mashed potatoes or french fries, horseradish, and Yorkshire pudding au jus. Plus a complimentary 6 oz. glass of house wine.
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Sundays: Fish & Chips $16.95 - Two pieces of beer battered cod with tartar sauce and lemon. Served with french fries and coleslaw.
As a special bonus, everyone who orders one of the evening specials will receive a game card to play “Pick to Win” in our Club West Gaming Lounge. Pick the green poker chip and you can spin our cash wheel to win up to $100 cash!
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Christmas Buffet - Sunday, Dec. 22
SOLD OUT
Let us do all the work for you! Indulge in a mouthwatering array of traditional Christmas favourites including roast turkey with gravy, baked ham & more. See full menu here.
Adults: $39.95, Seniors (65+): $35.95, Youth (6 to 12): $29.95, Kids (5 & under): $16.95. Prices are subject to applicable taxes.
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NYE Dinner & Dance - Tuesday, Dec. 31
Ring in 2025 in style at our New Year's Eve Dinner & Dance! Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring our renowned Certified Angus Prime Rib Buffet, followed by dancing until 1 a.m. See details and full menu here.
Tickets may be purchased from the General Office at Assiniboia Downs during regular office hours (Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) - OR - call 204-885-3330 to order your tickets by phone.
This event sells out every year so get your tickets now!
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Handicapping: Fun With Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI Test #4. Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
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Horse handicapping with AI. | |
The AI picked Formidable Man ($12.00) to win the 9th race at Del Mar last Saturday, so let’s see what it can do this week! We used a slightly different approach for this week’s analysis, feeding it the past performances for the Cigar Mile this Saturday at Aqueduct along with our personal analysis of each horse’s last race after watching the video replays. As always, AI is only as good as the person who is running it, so I guess we’ll see how good we are. 😊
CIGAR MILE HANDICAP (G2) Analysis
Race 9, Aqueduct, Saturday, December 7, 2024
1 Mile | Purse: $500,000 | 3-Year-Olds & Up
Top Selections:
1. MULLIKIN
2. POST TIME
3. LOCKED
Longshots:
1. COASTAL MISSION
2. LAW PROFESSOR
3. BOOK'EM DANNO
Saturday's Grade 2 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct shapes up as an intriguing matchup between lightly raced but talented Locked, the tough and classy Mullikin, and the ultra-consistent Post Time. With several speed horses signed on and multiple viable stalkers in the mix, the race offers both compelling drama and attractive wagering opportunities.
Mullikin stretches out to a mile for the first time. The speedy Violence colt exits a good third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and had impressed with consecutive stakes wins prior to that effort. While the distance is a question mark, his tactical speed should allow him to secure a good position under Flavien Prat. He can finish strong, and he’s also 1-for-1 at Aqueduct.
Post Time returns after a solid second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile where he made up significant ground late against a top field. The Brittany Russell trainee has been a model of consistency throughout his career, never finishing worse than third in 14 starts while compiling impressive speed figures. His tactical style should work perfectly with the projected pace scenario, though he'll need to work out a trip from the outside post.
Locked enters in sharp form for trainer Todd Pletcher following an impressive allowance win at Aqueduct in his return from an 11-month layoff. The developing son of Gun Runner dominated that field by 7 1/2 lengths while displaying his trademark stalking style. His development pattern and natural talent suggest another forward move is possible. Most notably, he showed elite ability at two when winning the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and placing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Several appealing longshots warrant consideration in this deep field. Coastal Mission is in career-best form with back-to-back stakes wins and has finished first and second in his two starts at Aqueduct. Law Professor boasts back class and a strong local record, having won 5 of 7 starts over this track. He’s also trained by former ASD trainer Rob Atras. Book'em Danno has kept good company all year and may have been unlucky not to win the Perryville (G3) in his most recent start after encountering some minor traffic trouble in the stretch.
The likely pace battle among several front-runners increases the probability of the race setting up for a strong stalker or closer. While the favourites look formidable, the depth of the field and potential for an honest pace create the possibility for an upset.
Let’s cash some tickets!
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Looking for a Special Photo of Your Big Horse or...?
Track Photographer Jason Halstead may have just what you're looking for
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Jockey Ronald Ali and Manitoba-bred No Show No Call return to smiles after winning the $40,000 Frank Arnason Memorial Sire Stakes on July 10 at ASD for trainer Mike Taphorn and owners Staffmax Stable and Club 3D Stable. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
| Looking for that extra-special photo of your big horse, one you might not find in your win pictures? Track photographer Jason Halstead takes numerous photos during the races, and not all of them can make it into the win photos. If you’re looking for something frameable from your big race, or of your special horse, email Jason at jjhphoto@gmail.com. Prices are excellent! Almost as good as his photos 😊 | |
Top NFL Picks by TravyFootball Week 14
Vikings over Falcons (Sunday noon): The Kirk Cousins revenge game is upon us. Cousins played like absolute garbage last week against the Chargers, with no touchdowns and four interceptions. It's gotten to the point where whispers are starting to float around about his future in Atlanta beyond this season. Everyone (including me) scoffed when the Falcons drafted a quarterback in the first round this year after handing Cousins $180 million, but now that decision is not looking so bad. You always play with a chip on your shoulder when facing your old team, so maybe that will be enough motivation for Kirk to step his game up and play like he did when he was with the Vikings. Believe it or not, Justin Jefferson has only had one touchdown in his last eight games, which is very unusual. They did go 6-2 in that span, so I'm sure he's more than happy to sacrifice stats, but come playoff time, he has to start finding the end zone again.
Cardinals over Seahawks (Sunday afternoon): I apologize to any Hawks or Cardinals fans, but I can't stand either of these teams. Not only because they are division rivals of San Fran, but also because you can't trust either one of them to show up when it matters, and one of them is probably going to win the division and host a playoff game. They are essentially mirror images of each other this season. Games they should've lost, they won, and games they should've won, they lost. Arizona was up 19-6 midway through the 3rd quarter last week and somehow blew that lead and lost to the Vikings. Seattle needed the help of Leonard Williams, a 300-pound defensive lineman who picked off Aaron Rodgers and returned it for a touchdown. Seattle has slightly more momentum, so I'll pick them to win, but I hope they both destroy each other.
Chiefs over Chargers (Sunday night): Just when it looked like the Chiefs were about to be handed their 2nd consecutive loss, the Raiders picked the absolute worst time to have miscommunication between the quarterback and the center, which led to Kansas City finding yet another unique way to win a football game. As usual, everyone blames the refs anytime the Chiefs win under unusual circumstances in the last minute, but what some people also tend to forget is that a football game is 60 minutes. Take care of what you have to do, and you won't have to worry about one bad call from the refs. The Chargers beat the Falcons last week, but they didn't look impressive doing it, at least not offensively. They were gifted four interceptions by Kirk Cousins but still only managed to score 17 points, with six of those points coming from the defense. Justin Herbert is going to have to throw for more than 147 yards if they're going to outscore Patrick Mahomes.
Last week 1-2
Season overall 25-14
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Watch and wager on world class racing from the comfort of your private carrel in our race book located on the 2nd level of the grandstand. The race book is open daily at 10 a.m. Can't make it to the track? Watch and wager at HPIbet.com or one of our off-track betting locations listed below.
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Can't make it to the track to wager?
Vist one of our off-track betting locations:
Be sure to stop by the Canad Inns Windsor Park, Green Brier Inn and Quest Inn every Saturday afternoon. A draw will be held at each location for $25 in wagering vouchers!
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Carryover Watch
- Woodbine (Dec. 6) - Jackpot Pick 6 carryover $136,145. Mandatory payout on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Click here for more carryovers.
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Player Rewards & Cash Back Program
Earn Points: Earn points for all your wagering when you swipe your HPI card or wager on HPIbet.com. Click here for more information.
Earn Cash Bonuses: Betting bonus cash is earned at four different wagering levels in addition to regular HPIbet rewards points earned. Bonus calculations are available on payouts of $2.20 and above. Maximum weekly bonus deposit $1,000. Click here for more information.
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Handicapping Tournaments
Player's Choice Tournaments
- Player’s Choice – Saturday, December 28
$1,750 up for grabs! Entry fee $25. Entrants pick 10 races from any thoroughbred, harness or quarter horse track that is racing on the contest day. A $2 WPS wager is placed on one horse from each race. The entrant with the highest bankroll is the winner. Click here to see a list of the 2024 tournament winners.
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"I Won Bigg" Wagering Group | |
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The "I Won Bigg" wagering group will be meeting every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on the plaza in the Clubhouse. This week's featured tracks will be Tampa and Woodbine. Everyone is welcome. If you would like more information please email Larry.
Group play will take place as follows:
- Saturday, Dec. 7
- Saturday, Dec. 14
- Saturday, Dec. 21
- Thursday, Dec. 26
- Saturday, Dec. 28
- No group play during the month of January.
- Group play will resume on Saturday, Feb. 7
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A Snapshot in Time
by Track Historian Bob Gates
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As 2024 draws to a close, our Snapshot in Time feature looks back at ‘milestone-year’ photos. The first of our four-part series honours the memory of Little Rock Acres’ Cache Lake from June 27, 1999.
25 Years Ago: Cache Lake dominated all 2-year-olds on the ground at the Downs. Clarence and Sue Marzolf couldn’t have been prouder, three starts and three victories, all stakes races. However, fate was cruel to the Marzolfs. Their bay colt suffered a severe injury in a freak training accident, denying all of us the privilege of seeing just how good their colt was going to be – R.I.P. "Cache!" (Gerry Hart photo)
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Europe, Australia and Japan well represented in four Group 1 races at Sha Tin
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Hong Kong Mile (G1) contender Ramadan sold for the top price of more than $1.6 million at Arqana’s Arc Sale, hours after his victory in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2). (Hong Kong Jockey Club photo) | |
Hong Kong’s International Racing Festival on Sunday, December 8 features four Group 1 events, and the Longines Hong Kong International Races bring together some of the elite horses from around the world to compete for total purses of HK$126 million. The races will be available to wager on and watch at Hpibet.com late Saturday evening. More from the Canadian Thoroughbred here. | |
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Betting Guide for the 2024-2025 Oaklawn Park Meet
| Horses break from the gate for the 2024-2025 season at Oaklawn Park on Friday, December 6. (Oaklawn Park photo) | Some of the winter season’s best dirt racing is coming to the Midwest with the opening of the Oaklawn Park 2024-2025 meet on Friday, Dec. 6. Racing at Oaklawn boasts big fields, good betting races for handicappers, an excellent stakes program, and very strong purses throughout its five-month season that will extend until Kentucky Derby day, May 3. More from America's Best Racing here. | |
Impressive maiden winner Keewaydin tries two turns in Saturday's Remsen
| Keewaydin was impressive breaking his maiden at Aqueduct. (Susie Raisher / NYRA Photo) | OXO Equine’s Keewaydin was an impressive maiden-winner last out and now steps up in class for Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, a nine-furlong route for juveniles, at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Remsen awards the top-five finishers with 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points, respectively, towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs. Last year, three Remsen contestants made the Run for the Roses. More from the Paulick Report here. | |
The Best of Bob
by ASD Historian Bob Gates
From June 4, 2020: That Was Then. This Is Now.
Bob’s come down with a bug this week. The good news is it’s not a virus. He’s developed nostalgic-like symptoms brought on by the Winnipeg Free Press front-page coverage of opening day at the Downs. How did this affect our history guy? Where does his trip down memory lane take us? Bob explains here.
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Upcoming Events at ASD
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Every Friday Night in November - Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel starting at 6 p.m. A draw for $200 cash will also take place - more info
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Every Saturday Night in November - Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel starting at 6 p.m. A draw for $200 cash will also take place - more info
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Every Sunday Night in November - Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel starting at 6 p.m. A draw for $200 cash will also take place - more info
- Saturday, Dec. 14 to Thursday, Dec. 26 - 12 Days of Christmas Cash - more info
- Christmas Buffet - Sunday, December 22 - SOLD OUT
- Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament - Saturday, Dec. 28 - more info
- Together Again - Saturday, Dec. 28 - more info
- New Year's Eve Dinner & Dance - Tuesday, Dec. 31 - more info
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Feedback & Inside Track Archives | |
We would love to hear from you! Email your comments and/or suggestions to theinsidetrack@ASDowns.com.
Did you know that past issues of The Inside Track are available on our website? Click here to read them now.
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